Alvey 55a Wanted pay good money for one

[Snyderglasman]

Hi Guys im chasing an Alvey 55A5 sidecast fishing reel. Im a whiting fisherman and love this particular reel but they dont make them anymore so if anyone has one there willing to part with will pay good $$$$$ for one.

Regards Matt

[Freeeedom]

Just noticed this post - don't look at the general chat very often. I've got one - must have had it for thirty years and it's still going strong. Sorry you can't have it, especially now you tell me they don't make them anymore. It's a beautiful reel and matches perfectly with a light 11 foot rod I built myself for fishing the estuarine flats and beach gutters when land-based. It's a magic combo that fits my hands perfectly and is light enough to fish with all day without arthritic joints complaining too much. I've literally caught thousands of fish with this rig and it's my first choice for land based fishing, only moving up to the heavier gear when the conditions or target species require me too. Hope you find one - but with the number of replies so far, I don't like your chances.
Cheers Freeeedom

[Snyderglasman]

they are proving very difficult to find and the one's on ebay are going for $200.00 plus

[finga]

Gees I hope The Cook doesn't realise that.

[lethal098]

Do you have a picture of one? I have been given a few alvey reels and have no idea how to identify them

[finga]

On the back where the spindle nut is there should be some writing on the long bit going up to the spot where you press the button (or what-ever you'd like to call it) to make the spool turn.
Here is a 550/A5 I found in the Alvey box
You can make out the 550 just and the A is kinda there in between the big nut and the triangle looking bit in this picture
https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-4z7fdGHIsY8/ULgcQ2jhviI/AAAAAAAAEJo/o3VmfUGWQIY/s640/IMAG0265.jpg

[lethal098]

Thanks Finga, I will have a squiz,

Cheers

[theoldlegend]

Just the one 550A Scott?

Pfffffttt. I've got three, plus a 550C.


TOL

[finga]

Just the one 550A Scott?

Pfffffttt. I've got three, plus a 550C.


TOL
Sure.....I'll admit to having only one 550/A5 but if you read I said Here is a 550/A5 I found in the Alvey box.
The statement doesn't really state the numbers of the 550/a5's in my possession. It simply implies that this particular one is a 550/A5.

I'll see ya next Tuesday. Appointments at 10.30 in the am

[Ausfish]

Why not look at the 55B or BE, BT, etc

[Tangles]

TOL

i recently bought 3 of them early this year, i dont know if they are a true 55A5,, they have a 55B front but with a Stainless back, still have one new in the box which says its a 55A5

Is that something you could check TOL?

[theoldlegend]

I'm not sure if they make a 55B Mike...........

The 55A5 has a stainless back, while the 55C5 has the stainless back, but has a drag system incorporated.

Normally the 'B" means the reel has a graphite back and the 'A' means it has a stainless back.

Anything showing a "C" means it has the drag on it.


TOL

[craigie]

Picked this lot of Alveys up from Ebay recently, paid less than $200 for the lot.
The dark coloured one is Timber in mint condition, straight to the pool room for it !! far too nice to slop Mullet Gut all over.....87889

[craigie]

Just checked the numbers on the narrow spool models, 50 A5E 7. Lovely light weight reels.

[theoldlegend]

Picked this lot of Alveys up from Ebay recently, paid less than $200 for the lot.
The dark coloured one is Timber in mint condition, straight to the pool room for it !! far too nice to slop Mullet Gut all over.....87889


Being an ex Forestry man Craigie, you can do a bit better than that can't you? Rosewood perhaps?


TOL

[charleville]

Being an ex Forestry man Craigie, you can do a bit better than that can't you? Rosewood perhaps?



More likely to be cedar from Nugini.

My late mum's neighbour worked at Alveys turning wooden fishing reels and he regularly brought home a trailer full of cedar offcuts for Mum to burn in her copper.

Gee, it was nice wood. Burnt well, also.


.

[craigie]

Yeah Johnny,

Remember the Forestry days very fondly !!

From my research and observation, Alvey used either Red Cedar or Rosewood. But have seen Silky Oak and campher used as well but these may have been done by wood turners in there private sheds ?

Cheers
Craig

[theoldlegend]

A bloke at one of the Boaties' Markets had some silky oak ones Craigie, bit I think he might have turned those himself.


TOL

[theoldlegend]

Curiosity got the better of me so I rang the Alvey factory and spoke to Glen Alvey.

He said that in the early days, a small number of silky oak reels were produced as well as a small number of camphor laurel reels, but the latter were hard to turn and were discontinued, as were the silky oak ones after cedar was used.

The majority were made from Australian cedar which didn't always have an even colour distribution throughout the planks, so the reels with some discolouration were stained in a rosewood colour.

Cedar from New Guinea was also used, but it sometimes went "furry", so once again the Australian cedar was used.

So there you go.


TOL

[craigie]

Excellent John !
Love hearing all that info, Alvey reels are as Queensland as Wally Lewis !!

I'm a born again Alvey user and collector.

Have just ordered one of the limited edition cedar reels that Alvey have started producing. Only 100 so they will go quick !! Straight to the pool room for this one too.......

Cheers
Craigie.

[theoldlegend]

Yes Craigie, Bruce Alvey and Glen Alvey are only too happy to help out with any info about anything if they can.


TOL